Hauraki Gulf Keeps America's Cup on Hold

Published 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 20, 2003

Race 4 of the America's Cup between Alinghi of Switzerland and two-time defending champion Team New Zealand was delayed even before the boats left the Viaduct Basin.

The wind was only blowing at four knots when principal race officer Harold Bennett advised both teams of a shore delay at 9:10 a.m., well ahead of the scheduled 1:15 p.m. start. The crews were told to stay in port until conditions improved.

Thousands of New Zealanders crammed the waterfront waiting to see the 80-foot sloops leave the harbor, and authorities expected a spectator fleet of 3,000 boats.

Forecasts had called for wind of between seven and 11 knots from the south-southwest, changing to a northeasterly sea breeze later in the day. Those breezes often cancel out each other over the gulf.

Race 4 originally was scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of wind shifts of up to 30 degrees that made it impossible to set a course. The crews waited on the water through a two-hour delay before Bennett called it a day.

Alinghi has a 3-0 lead in the best-of-nine series.

Three years ago, four racing days were lost because of light wind on the gulf.

Meanwhile, Prince Albert of Monaco said his small Mediterranean principality would not host the next America's Cup if Alinghi succeeds in taking the trophy back to Europe for the first time in 152 years.

"We had thought about Alinghi, but a quick analysis showed that while it would be a wonderful event, it is just too big for Monaco to accommodate," Prince Albert said. "We know the approximate size and the logistics needed for the cup, and we couldn't do it."

If Alinghi wins the series, it would be the first America's Cup defender from a country that has no coastline. Alinghi would consider ports on the Mediterranean and Atlantic for the next regatta, probably in 2007.